Compass — Foreign Bytes

/// Construction

Construction Professionals

Compare permit requirements across cities in seconds, not days.

Compass indexes permits, building codes, and zoning ordinances across 7+ jurisdictions. Ask what you need — get answers grounded in the actual code, with section references, fee schedules, and timelines. No more cross-referencing PDFs or calling three permitting offices.

Example question

"What are the renovation permit requirements in Oak Park vs. Chicago? Do either have historic district restrictions?"

Real responses pulled from the production Compass system — not mocked, not edited.

You

Compare the renovation permit requirements across Chicago, Evanston, and Oak Park. I need to know fees, timelines, and any historic district issues.

Compass

Here's a side-by-side comparison across all three jurisdictions:

Chicago

Fees based on project valuation: under $25K start at $250, $25K–$100K at $500, over $100K at $5 per $1,000 of value. Processing: 4–8 weeks. Interior-only renovations may qualify for the Easy Permit fast track. Asbestos survey required for pre-1981 buildings, lead paint disclosure for pre-1978.

Chicago, IL

Evanston

Base fee of $75 plus per-$1,000-of-valuation. Processing: 3–6 weeks standard. Follows 2021 IBC/IEBC with local amendments. Properties in the Lakeshore, Ridge, or Fountain Square historic districts require Preservation Commission review and Certificate of Appropriateness — adds 4–6 weeks. Contractor registration with city required. E-permitting available.

Evanston, IL

Oak Park

Application fee plus valuation-based component. Non-historic processing: 2–4 weeks. Two National Register-listed historic districts plus a local landmark program. Any exterior alteration on contributing properties requires Certificate of Appropriateness — adds 4–8 weeks. Interior renovations exempt from historic review but still require permits.

Oak Park, IL

You

What do I need for a residential building permit in Chicago?

Compass

Here are the residential building permit requirements for Chicago:

Residential Building Permit — Chicago

The City of Chicago Department of Buildings requires: a completed permit application form, two sets of architectural drawings showing the proposed work, a plat of survey no more than 6 months old, proof of property ownership or authorized agent letter, and contractor license information.

Chicago, IL

Fee Schedule

Projects under $25,000 start at $250. Projects $25,000–$100,000 are $500. Projects over $100,000 are calculated at $5 per $1,000 of project value. Typical processing time is 4–8 weeks for standard residential permits.

Fee Schedule

Related: Electrical & Plumbing

Electrical permits start at $75 (required for all work beyond simple fixture replacements). Plumbing permits start at $100 (required for new installations, relocations, or major modifications). Both require licensed contractors and inspections.

Specialty Permits

You

I'm planning a mixed-use 3-story building in Chicago — ground floor retail, upper floors residential. What do I need to know about permits, zoning, and structural requirements?

Compass

I checked permits, zoning, and building codes for your project. Here's the full picture:

Permits — Commercial Building

Requires full architectural and structural drawings stamped by a licensed architect and structural engineer, HVAC/MEP plans, zoning certificate, ADA compliance documentation, and a fire safety plan reviewed by Chicago Fire Department. Fees start at $1,000 for projects under $50K, scaling with valuation.

Permits

Zoning — C-1 Neighborhood Commercial

Max height: 38 feet. Max FAR: 2.2. Front setback: 0 feet (build-to line). Residential is permitted above ground floor commercial. Parking: 1 space per 500 sq ft of commercial area, reduced 50% if within 600 feet of a CTA rail station.

Zoning

Structure — Foundation Requirements

Foundations must extend below the frost line at 42 inches below grade. Min 8" thick poured concrete or 12" concrete block. For buildings over 3 stories: geotechnical report required, Chicago caisson foundations required in most soil conditions.

Building Code

You

What are the fire escape requirements for a 3-story residential building in Chicago?

Compass

Here's what Chicago code Section 14-X-1.2 says about means of egress:

Fire Safety — Means of Egress (Section 14-X-1.2)

All residential structures over two stories must have a minimum of two means of egress. Each must lead directly to a public way or approved open space. Exit stairways must be enclosed with a minimum 1-hour fire-resistance rating for buildings up to 4 stories (2-hour for 4+ stories). Exit signs must be illuminated and visible from all corridor points. Emergency lighting must function for a minimum of 90 minutes upon power failure.

Chicago, ILSection 14-X-1.2

You

What are the zoning rules in Houston? I heard they don't have traditional zoning.

Compass

That's correct — Houston is unique among major U.S. cities:

Houston — No Traditional Zoning Ordinance

Houston voters rejected zoning in referenda in 1948, 1962, and 1993. There are no conventional use districts. Instead, land use is regulated through private deed restrictions (restrictive covenants) recorded in Harris County property records. This creates Houston's characteristic mixed-use landscape where homes, strip malls, and industrial sites can legally coexist on adjacent parcels.

Houston, TX

Chapter 42 Development Standards

In lieu of zoning, Chapter 42 governs lot size, setbacks, and parking. Minimum lot size: 1,400 sq ft in urban areas. Front setback: 10 feet (25 feet in pre-1998 areas). Off-street parking: 1.33 spaces per dwelling unit for single-family. Stormwater detention required for developments over one acre.

Chapter 42

You

How about Chicago R-1 residential? What can I build there?

Compass

Chicago R-1 is the most restrictive residential district:

R-1 Single Family Residential

Permits single-family detached dwellings only. Max height: 30 ft. Max FAR: 0.50. Min lot area: 6,250 sq ft. Front setback: 20 ft. Side setbacks: combined 5 ft minimum (no side less than 2 ft). Rear setback: 28 ft or 30% of lot depth. Max lot coverage: 55%. Accessory structures in rear yard only. Home occupations permitted with restrictions.

Chicago R-1

You

Show me a reference image for a fire-rated wall assembly detail.

Compass

Here are matching construction reference images:

1-Hour Fire-Rated Wall Assembly

5/8" Type X gypsum board, 2x4 studs 16" OC, R-13 insulation

Foundation Detail — Residential

Min 1ft thick footing, 8" foundation wall, #4 rebar at 24" OC

/// What's Inside

Permits, building codes, and zoning data indexed across 7+ jurisdictions, starting with the Chicago metro area. Plus code-compliant reference images.

Look up permit requirements by city and type
Search building codes in plain English
Check zoning — setbacks, FAR, permitted uses
Compare requirements across multiple cities at once
Assess full project feasibility in one query
Find reference images — assemblies, details, plans
Analyze uploaded blueprints and construction docs

Jurisdictions

68+

Sources

Ref. Images

/// Healthcare

Healthcare Professionals

Look up clinical guidelines and patient data with confidence.

Compass retrieves treatment protocols, medication interactions, lab interpretations, and medical codes from indexed clinical sources. Ask about a patient's conditions — get the relevant guidelines with proper dosing, contraindications, and monitoring schedules. Every answer is sourced, not generated.

Example question

"What's the management protocol for a diabetic patient with Stage 3 CKD? Should I adjust metformin?"

From clinical guidelines to patient records — real queries, real results.

You

I have a diabetic patient with chronic kidney disease. What's the recommended management protocol? Should I continue metformin?

Compass

I found guidelines from nephrology and endocrinology that apply here:

CKD Classification and Management

Management targets: BP <120 systolic, HbA1c <7%. Reduce proteinuria with ACE-I or ARB. SGLT-2 inhibitors (empagliflozin, dapagliflozin) recommended for CKD with diabetes. Finerenone also indicated. Referral to nephrology if GFR <30, proteinuria >1 g/day, or rapid decline (>5 mL/min/year).

Nephrology

Type 2 Diabetes — Medication Protocol

First-line: metformin 500–2000mg daily — but monitor renal function. Metformin should be discontinued if eGFR drops below 30. Alternatives: GLP-1 RA (semaglutide, dulaglutide), SGLT-2 inhibitor, DPP-4 inhibitor (sitagliptin), or insulin. Monitoring: HbA1c every 3 months until stable, UACR annually.

Endocrinology

Diabetic Neuropathy Screening

Affects 50% of type 2 diabetes patients. Annual foot exam from diagnosis. Pain management: gabapentin 300–3600mg TID, pregabalin 150–600mg, duloxetine 30–60mg. Podiatry referral for high-risk feet. Screen for Charcot joint if ankle swelling with erythema.

Endocrinology

You

Find patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Show me their current medications and recent labs.

Compass

Found a matching patient record:

Maria Garcia

Female · Age 63 · Born 1962-04-18

demo-001

Active Conditions

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (E11.65)
Diabetic CKD stage 4 (E11.22/N18.4)
Essential hypertension (I10)
Diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Current Medications

Insulin glargine 20 units daily
Lisinopril 20mg daily
Amlodipine 5mg daily
Gabapentin 300mg TID
Atorvastatin 40mg daily

Recent Labs

HbA1c: 9.1%
Creatinine: 3.2 mg/dL
eGFR: 22 mL/min/1.73m²
Potassium: 5.1 mEq/L
Hemoglobin: 10.2 g/dL

Clinical Notes

Referred to nephrology — CKD stage 4
Metformin discontinued (eGFR <30)
Insulin initiated for glycemic control
Dietitian referral — renal diet

You

Pull up the cardiac markers for James Chen — BNP and troponin.

Compass

Here are the cardiac markers and vitals for James Chen (demo-002):

BNP

420 pg/mL — Elevated. Consistent with heart failure. BNP levels above 400 pg/mL suggest moderate-to-severe heart failure.

Laboratory

Troponin I

0.02 ng/mL — Normal. No evidence of acute myocardial injury. Troponin below 0.04 ng/mL is within normal limits.

Laboratory

Heart Rate

72 bpm — Normal. Reference range: 60–100 bpm. Well-controlled on current beta-blocker therapy (Carvedilol 25mg BID).

Vital Signs

Blood Pressure

125/78 mmHg — Slightly elevated systolic. Reference: <120/<80 mmHg. Managed with Lisinopril 40mg daily.

Vital Signs

You

Which of our patients are on metformin? What's their current status?

Compass

I found patients currently on metformin, along with their related conditions and lab values:

John Doe — Metformin 500mg BID

Male, age 65. Type 2 diabetes (E11), hypertension (I10), CKD stage 3 (N18.3). Labs: HbA1c 7.2%, Creatinine 1.8 mg/dL, eGFR 42 mL/min, Glucose 145 mg/dL. Also on Lisinopril 10mg and Atorvastatin 20mg.

patient-001

Ali Weimann — Metformin 500mg ER

Female, age 73. Type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, anemia, osteoarthritis. Labs: Glucose 95.4 mg/dL, Creatinine 3.1 mg/dL, eGFR 80.9 mL/min. Also on Simvastatin 10mg and Ibuprofen 400mg.

Synthea Patient

Maria Garcia — Metformin Discontinued

Female, age 63. Diabetic CKD stage 4 (eGFR 22). Metformin discontinued due to eGFR <30 — switched to Insulin glargine 20 units daily. HbA1c 9.1%, Creatinine 3.2 mg/dL. Referred to nephrology for transplant evaluation.

demo-001

You

I need the ICD-10 codes for chronic kidney disease stage 4.

Compass

Here are the ICD-10 codes for CKD, including all stage classifications:

N18 — Chronic Kidney Disease

N18.1 — Stage 1 (GFR ≥90)
N18.2 — Stage 2 (GFR 60–89)
N18.3 — Stage 3 (GFR 30–59)
N18.4 — Stage 4 (GFR 15–29) ← your query
N18.5 — Stage 5 (GFR <15)

ICD-10

Related Codes

E87.5 — Hyperkalemia (elevated potassium >5.0 mmol/L, common CKD complication). Causes: CKD, ACE inhibitors, ARBs. Risk of cardiac arrest if >6.5 mmol/L — urgent treatment required.

ICD-10 Related

You

Show me an EKG reference and a lab report example.

Compass

Here are matching healthcare reference images:

EKG Strip — Normal Sinus Rhythm

HR 60–100 bpm, PR 120–200ms, QRS 80–120ms, QT 380–440ms

CMP Lab Report

Robert Chen — abnormal glucose (187), creatinine (2.1), eGFR (34), HbA1c (8.9)

/// What's Inside

Clinical guidelines, synthetic patient records, lab data, medication info, and medical coding across 7+ clinical domains.

Search clinical guidelines and treatment protocols
Look up patients by condition, demographics, or meds
Retrieve labs, vitals, and observations per patient
Find ICD-10, LOINC, SNOMED-CT, and CPT codes
Analyze uploaded lab report images
Search medication dosing and interactions
Find clinical reference images — EKGs, charts, flowcharts

32+

Guidelines

396+

Sources

164+

Med. Codes

/// Under the Hood

For the technically curious — how Compass works, what it's built with, and the full tool inventory.

Construction — 7 tools

lookup_permit_requirements

Search permit requirements by jurisdiction and permit type

search_building_codes

Query building codes with natural language across jurisdictions

get_zoning_info

Retrieve zoning district details — setbacks, FAR, permitted uses

compare_jurisdictions

Side-by-side comparison of requirements across multiple cities

analyze_document

Upload and analyze blueprints, plans, and construction docs

project_feasibility

Composite — combines permits, zoning, and codes in a single query

search_reference_images

Find code-compliant reference images for assemblies and details

Healthcare — 7 tools

query_patients

Search patients by demographics, conditions, or medications

search_clinical_docs

Retrieve clinical guidelines, protocols, and reference material

find_related_codes

Look up ICD-10, LOINC, SNOMED-CT, or CPT codes by concept

analyze_lab_report

Upload lab report images or PDFs for structured interpretation

search_medications

Search medication data — dosing, interactions, contraindications

get_observations

Retrieve labs, vitals, and clinical observations for a patient

search_reference_images

Find clinical reference images — EKG strips, charts, flowcharts

FastMCP 3.1.0

Python MCP framework with auto-generated tool schemas and async support.

Pinecone Serverless

Vector database. Single index, two namespaces — cost-efficient without cross-contamination.

Gemini Embedding 2

Multimodal embeddings. Text, images, and PDFs in a single vector space.

Railway

Cloud deployment with health monitoring and zero-downtime updates.

Starlette / Uvicorn

Async Python server powering the HTTP transport layer.

Model Context Protocol

Open standard for connecting AI models to tools and data. Linux Foundation stewardship.